Spread Cheer Not Virus - Keep Your Distance Coronavirus Pandemic Humor

Do You Need To Humor Yourself And Others?

We have plenty of humor for you to send during this Pandemic. 
Created by Planetpals artist Judith Gorgone.

Available on Greeting Card Universe.  Did you know you can have cards sent to you? You can also pick them up at places like Target...but be careful and keep your distance! We want to spread cheer but not virus! Available on products and t shirts at Redbubble . 

Pandemic Cards / Pandemic Products

Designs © artist Judith Gorgone

Check out these Pandemic PRODUCTS

Check out these Pandemic CARDS 

 

          

    

Pandemic Cards / Pandemic Products
More designs available!

Pandemic Waste: With Coronavirus The Gloves & Wipes Waste Unimaginable

Covid 19 has our health system as well as all of us working backward. We are tossing materials out like mad for fear of contamination.

Single-Use Unneccesary Disposal - What Can You Do? 

That doesn't just include hospitals using gloves and gowns, but individuals tossing single use gloves, masks, and wipes on a daily basis!  

Not only is it a recycle mess it's a social mess! People are afraid of the contaminants and just disposing of them everywhere. In shopping carts on the street, in the parking lots.

Hopefully, stores, businesses, gas stations, etc will place disposable recycle boxes outside their exit doors for gloves and wipes to help us recycle.  Gloves and wipes have to be disposed of differently than toilet paper or tissues. 

Here are a number of topics and solutions I found. Some solutions for small businesses and large and information guides: 

Recycle Disposable Wipes 
Recycle Gloves
Terracycle Disposable Boxes
Kimberly Clark Right Cycle 
Clean Hands Eco Friendly Alternatives

Be green! Think Clean EARTH. Be a Planetpal!

During Social Distancing and Distance Learning Why Not Nature Journal!

Journals can be a great learning experience all year long

For links to these projects go to Planetpals Pinterest Nature Journal Board

What better learning experience is there than to document nature's splendor, with a nature diary! It's a great project for any age including kids!  Anyone can draw, write, record and photograph what they see.

Any season is a season for Journaling; 

Spring means outdoors for many who have cooped up all winter, like birds and bugs, trees and plants.   Summer is a time for thriving for many plants and animals, caring for their young, plants blooming and harvesting.  As well, Autumn harvests and the storing and shedding of animals and plants.  Winter is time for hibernation and wild weather patterns. Let's face it, all year long nature evolves, the skies not only change through the seasons, but change day and night, as do the tides. 

The changing seasons are a perfect time to think of Journaling.  

Journaling is a wonderful pastime and an educational hobby. With the changing season comes changes in nature. You can track the seasons of trees and flowers.  You can track nature's life cycles like that of a butterfly from and egg to a caterpillar to a full grown butterfly. You can watch animals come out of, or prepare and go into, hibernation.

Things you can record in a Journal:

Learn to look for patterns in nature such as heart shaped leaves, camouflage or repetitive patterns. Find nests and cocoons, take photos of changing leaves, sprouting flowers and new blossoming plants. Watch gardens grow and the changing seaside.  Learn what different species eat, which ones are endangered,  and learn about the food chain. Collect different kinds of natural species or their parts such as shells or barks from trees. Or simply find the beauty in any natural thing!

Here is a list of additional ideas for a Seasonal Journal:

• Color in Nature
• Art in Nature
• Anatomy and Architecture
• Planted Seedlings
• Budding and Blooming Flowers
• Budding and Blooming Trees
• Birds and Nests
• Bugs and Insects
• Cacoons and Bee Hives
• Hybernation and Habitats
• Otters and Damns
• Breeding and Birth
• Sky and Clouds
• Changing Leaves
• Collecting bark, leaves, insects or shells
• More 

© Judith Gorgone Designs www.gorgone.com

How to document in your Journal:

• Draw
• Paint
• Photograph
• Write Stories
• Write Poems
• Write Haiku
• Describe Objects
• Color Match
• Collect specimens
• Save seeds
• Collect images from magazines
• Decorate

How to make a Scrapbook:

• Buy a notebook or scrapbook
• Use any kind of paper
• Use paper 
• Use cloth
• Recycle papers, scraps and bags
• Recycle cardboard

See many more ideas and download helpers here:

• A Printable Nature Journal for you to download for free.
• Free Nature Discovery Kit to Download
• Our Nature Magazine of additional articles and ideas for you to explore.
• DIY Nature Journal Ideas Pinterest Board
• Our Creative Art Journal Ideas Pinterest Board

Download Planetpals Free Nature Diary FREE Here.

Be a Planetpal!  Come up with some natural ideas and recycle ideas you can use in your journal and share it with us!

Fun and Informative List of Favorite Free EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES For KIDS for Homeschool & Distance Learning

Favorite Free Educational Website List

Teach Kids to Love Learning!

Some of the Best!

This list is a FREE Download:

• Perfect Backup for Classroom, homeschool, or home.
• Kids Learn at Home
• Great for Distance Learning.
• Teacher Helpers
• Curriculum & Classroom Ideas
• Includes Many Topics
• 
  

FREE Download Here

Ramadan and Eid Crafts That Are Greener

Upcycle and recycle craft ideas to celebrate and decorate these important Muslim holy days.

Eid or Ramadan Green Crafts Even You Can Do!

More than a billion people around the world practice the fast of Ramadan and celebrate Eid.

The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle. The month of Ramadan is the ninth month and begins with a combination of the sighting of the new moon and astronomical calculations. The exact time of Ramadan sometimes varies from place to place as some rely heavily on the moon sightings, while others depend on science. An Imam (Muslim holy man) will declare the exact time of Ramadan just prior to its commencement. The fasting period ends upon the sighting of the next new moon, which occurs after 29 or 30 days.

Some of the symbols of this holy period are the moon, the lamb, the mosque and lantern lights.  

Just Go Here!  We have collected recycle and upcycled crafts to help decorate and celebrate this important time in their culture.

Not Cancelled: Nature With Great Views For Your STAYcation

At a time  when we are all struggling with the effects and residuals of CORONAVIRUS and COVID-19 outbreaks and scares, let's remember that there is still some beautiful things in this world!

Planetpals.com and Planetpalsblog.com

Take this Staycation time to learn about your world. 
Encourage yourself and kids to look beyond every day life and stop to smell the roses! The magic of nature. Play in it.  View it. Explore it.  

Our list of Nature activities that you can still attend and take time to enjoy everyday, always:

• Sunrise
• Sunset
• Cloud Formations
• Rainbows
• Weather
• Moonbeams
• Stars
• Snow
• Rain
• Ocean
• Lakes
• Rivers
• Flowers
• Trees
• Mountains
• Planets
• Wild Life
• All of nature

Where and how?

• Go to your back yard 
• Look out your window
• Take a ride and bring a picnic
• Take photos and enjoy them later
• Do drawings and paintings of them
• Run, play, get fresh air
• Make a diorama of nature
• Make snowman
• Make a sand castle
• Plant something indoors or out
• Explore Nature
• Enjoy Family!

It's all good! All you have to do is open their eyes! 

*Remember to be safe during the Coronavirus Outbreak...keep your distance (10 feet recommended) , stay at home if you need to, bring your own chairs, bring your own food, stay away from public buildings and events larger than 10 people. Corvid-19 Safety Article

Plenty of educational options on Earth for kids. Check them out!

Things To Do If You Are In Quarantine

Oh my, this is really a game changer.

Now that social distance and distance learning are the buzz words of the day. 

If you are housebound with cabin fever and in quarantine during this social distancing due to Coronavirus,  COVID-19 pandemic, here are some ideas for you and your family! 

• Play board games. Fun for you! And perfect if you have kids!
• Play yard games: Check this link out, 16 Classic yard games You can play with kids.
• Go to the museum. How? There are 12 famous museums you can tour online!
• Go for an adventure: Take a ride and pack a picnic! You won't be eating out and picnics are fun. Pack some goodies.
• Nature Journal Get outside or learn inside in books. Learn about nature, document it, draw it, write about it! Get our free Nature Diary.
• Craft! Try a new craft or do an old one. Always wanted to learn the camera? Knit? Paint? Learn Calligraphy? Craft with kids, too!
• Take a Class.  Online Education is available all over the internet. Check the major Colleges links.
• Watch Videos.  A Movie you wanted to see?  How about some educational videos online. Both are available from your local library online sources...free access to places like Overdrive and Hoopla.
• Clean. How about Spring cleaning early?
• Write: Been wanting to write more Poems or Start that book?
• Catch up on reading. Try your local library online sources
• Cook! How many recipes have you saved that you thought might be delicious!
• Start a new house project.  Been wanting to paint the bedroom? Re-arrange the Playroom? 
• Learn about Earth, Get ready for Earthday on Planetpals.com.
• Get some Educational Activities on Teachers Pay Teachers or Amped Up Learning 
• Take this time to contact old friends, family and make memories with your own.

Whatever you do, be safe, be squeaky clean and use diligence.

Stay Healthy Pals!

Learn about Earth! Planetpals.com

Get some educational activities Teachers Pay Teachers or Amped Up Learning !

Wondering What Christmas Wraps Can You Recycle?

Share this handy list of giftwrap items that you are unable to recycle:
Keep these out of the bin!  

We have an idea, try to recycle them by reusing them. Be creative!

Thanks Planetpals!

Happy Holidays Inclusive Activities For The Classroom

Exclusively Inclusive!

Life skills for a better world all wrapped up in holiday activities! 

Whether you are a homeschooler or a classroom teacher, you will love these new activities for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and More. 

Planetpals NO PREP activities are not only clever and fun but unqiue! Kids learn life skills. One of a kind for Kindness, Inclusiveness, ways to a better world. Classroom, homeschool or home. 

Check out what's new! 

Here are three of our newest for the Holiday Sesaon.

A lesson on a world of holidays

A Star of an activity

Tick Tock It's Time for Kindness

Smash It, Don't Trash it! Pumpkin Recycle

It's A Pumpkin Palooza That's A Howl!

There are many ways to recycle pumpkins.  This is one of our favorites.

Pumpkin Smash? No, we don't mean smash your neighbor's pumpkins for Halloween!  We are talking about an after Halloween pumpkin smash that ends up in a great big compost pile.

Your town doesn't have one?  Why not organize a pumpkin smash in your town just like the recent Pumpkin Smash in Newton, MA?  So simple and it all goes to a good cause!

If you are not composting yourself, here is a fun way to compost that will entertain the kids and extend the Halloween season. Smash for a reason.

It's a win win.

See what a smashing time our friends Alexis and Max had when they attended the Pumpkin Smash. Here are their photos!

Smashing Pumpkin Recycle Event Newton, MA

Everyone having a smashing time!

Alexis and Max All done!

How to Recycle Pumpkins After the Holidays

Halloween and Thanksgiving are over, what are the best ideas on Earth for recycling pumpkins?

The Greatest list for Earth Saving Ideas to reduce and reuse pumpkins:

• Eat them! Pumpkins are high in Vitamin E and A and Fiber so make a healthy Pumpkin recipe...Yum.
• Eat the seeds, dry them. Another Yum!
• Compost them in your garden compost
• Give them away. Offer them to a neighbor or friend w a compost bin  (if you don't have one).

  

  Planet them.  Kids can watch them grow!

• Bring them to a farm that has animals that eat them. Did you know cows & cattle love pumpkins? Do call or ask first if they accept them. 
• Plant Them. Cut each top off, so that the pumpkin looks like a plant pot. Fill it with dirt. Then watch the seeds grow into new pumpkin seedlings!
• Recycle them! Every town is different so double check the rules.
• Smash them! Bring them to a pumpkin smashing in your town

NOTE: Don't leave them to degrade outside if you don't want mice, moles, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits or woodchucks coming to your yard. They love them!

Thanks for being a Planetpal!

17 Great 'E'cology Tips To Help You Make A Greener World on Thanksgiving!

Planetpals Puts An 'E' In Your Thanksgiving and Turns It Green

Some clever ways to green your Thanksgiving holiday and make it more memorable and meaningful for the entire family and Earth!

1.    When food and holiday shopping, combine trips. It saves gas and energy

2.    Buy in bulk: Such as using large soda containers instead of many small cans

3.    Bake your pies and dishes in reusable pans not disposable aluminum 

4.    Cook Many things in your oven at the same time to save energy

5.    Light a fire in the hearth to save on energy. Even better, make newspaper logs!

6.    Have a cooler with drinks for a large gathering because opening and closing the fridge lets the cold air out  and uses more energy

7.    Have  a designated Recycle Bin for guests Use Planetpals Free Recycle Sign

8.    Use cloth napkins, placemats and table covers. It not only makes the day more special and it saves paper!

9.    Make your own paper place cards and menus. Make them from your own handmade paper.  See Planetpals Paper Making Recipe.

10.  Make delicious recipes from those decorative pumpkins, berries and gourds (yes, you can cook some varieties) leftover after the holiday. Don't just throw them away!

11.  Recycle your decorations from year to year.

12.  Make decorations from recycled materials. This is a great craft for kids!

13.  Make paper mache decorations such as paper mache pumpkins. They not only can be reused, but you reuse paper! See Planetpals Paper Mache Recipe.

14.  It takes a lot of energy to make new containers, paper products and packaging. Be diligent, recycle all your newspapers, cans, bottles, plastics, cardboard and other materials.

15.  Make decorations from edibles such as fruit and cloves. The options are endless, just use creativity. Then, have a feast!

16. Make a Thankful Turkey teach kids to give thanks for the good things in life!

Get the Thankful Turkey! 

17. Lastly, learn all kinds of eco-friendly and fun Thanksgiving tips, tricks and crafts - Read the Thanksgiving Journal.

Always Remember the 4 "R"s. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair!

Get this Thanks & Giving Thanksgiving Activity

Keep Your World Boo-tiful This Halloween

Be a Planetpal, too!

Halloween is fun and games, but it isn't just about getting candy, bobbing for apples and winning prizes for costumes. This Halloween think about helping others while helping the planet. Practice the 3 "r"s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Here are some quick tips from Planetpals to help you share and care:

• Share your candy with a less fortunate friend.
• Have your class collect donations for a good cause.
• Make your costume out of recycled materials such as cardboard, cans, paper, old clothes or tin foil.
• Think of ways you can recycle or reuse the candy wrappers and candy bags.
• Have a Green Halloween Party
• Have a costume swap
• Have some healthy Halloween food with friends and classmates
• Decorate making recycled Halloween crafts with recycled materials
• Recycle your pumpkin, by making delicious dishes and drying the seeds. You can find plenty of recipes for these!
• Donate your costume and decorations to a thrift shop or swap shop when Halloween is over.
• Save your decorations to use again next year.
• Reuse your Halloween classroom activities (make bookmarks, decorations, etc)
• Eat only packaged items you obtain Trick or Treating...and share them!
• See Planetpals Green Halloween Journal for way more ideas!
• You're only limited by your imagination! Maybe you can think of some more ideas!

Remember: Be safe on Halloween-be well lit, pay attention out there it's dark out, and go Trick or Treating with a parent or guardian. 

For a variety of fun activities for the holiday check out Planetpals TPT Store.  All Planetpals activities are punny and playful! Did we say educational, too?

Check them out!

For more Halloween Ideas see Planetpals Green Halloween Journal and Green Halloween Board on Pinterest.

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